Bridesmaids

Shop Dresses

Search brands and styles:

So you’re going to be a bridesmaid! How’s that for exciting? And, um, other than wearing a fancy dress and carrying a bouquet, what does that mean, exactly? These bridesmaid alumna—who have been in more weddings than they can remember—break down the basics and share the tips and tricks they’ve learned along the way. Go on—steal their secrets.

Bridesmaids always look stylish in black: Here to prove that point, Karrueche Tran, who was one of three bridesmaids in mix-and-match black dresses for her sister’s wedding. A photo posted by karrueche (@karrueche) on Jul 24, 2015 at 6:32pm PDT A photo posted by karrueche (@karrueche) on Jul 24, 2015 at 4:21pm PDT The ’maids all wore their hair in sleek ponytails, Karrueche’s with a deep side part. Accessories were simple: Each wore a gold necklace and earrings. read more

If you want a “Bachelorette!” sash and all the penis straws that come with it, we say: Go for it. Your bachelorette party should be your kind of fun, and if that involves shots and the possibility of dancing on a bar, then so be it. Or, if you’d rather die than don a penis veil, here are five alternative activities to pass the time during your bachelorette party. (Some would be fun for a bridal shower too.) Bond at the Spa A photo posted by The Nail Truck (@thenailtruck) on Jul 16, 2015 at 12:34pm PDT Book ahead to ask for a group rate and request side-by-side seats for mani-pedis. Or brides in Orange County, California, can call in The Nail Truck, a mobile solon in a vintage Airstream that brings the spa party to you. Make a Date Jar for the Bride and Groom Use popsicle sticks and sharpie to suggest fun activities for the bride and groom, post-wedding. After their big day, they can pick one mystery date a weekend to keep the romance alive. Photo courtesy of Lora Mae Photography. Design Your Own Perfumes DIY perfume bars are popping up all over the country. (Try googling read more

To celebrate Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson’s one-year wedding anniversary, their photographer, Elizabeth Messina, shared some never-before-seen wedding pictures. A photo posted by elizabeth messina (@elizabethmessina) on Jul 5, 2015 at 4:09pm PDT A photo posted by elizabeth messina (@elizabethmessina) on Jul 5, 2015 at 8:08pm PDT The second is awesome because it’s such a real moment. (SO much better than the standard, “OK, bridesmaids. Stand in a row. Now, 1, 2, 3, CHEESE!”) And because it’s packed with four important reminders on how to style mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses. 1) Opt for a muted palette. There are loads of colors going on here—blues, pinks, purples, greens. (Jessica had 12 bridesmaids, plus, sister Ashlee and mom Tina as co-maids-of-honor.) But because all the colors are soft, they work together. (Click here for a picture of Jessica Simpson’s full bridal party.) Jess called the vibe “a little bit angelic, but of course with rhinestones!” 2) Keep the fabrications similar. There are flow-y tulles and chiffons and some hints of lace there. And that’s about it, in the texture department. If there were shiny satin or heavy taffeta in the mix, the dresses that were visually heavier would stick out. 3) Pick low-key read more

Most bridesmaid dresses are fine. Just fine. Not what you’d pick if you were a guest at the wedding but something you buy because it’s sort of considered the price of admission for standing up front as one of your best friends says “I do.” Even if you don’t hate it—even if it’s maybe little cute—the chances of it getting shoved in the back of your closet until you pack it up for Goodwill in two years are high. Unless, maybe, the bride chooses wear-again bridesmaid separates—like these, from Joanna August. All of these looks are shirt-and-skirt combos, giving them major wear-again potential. Sure, you’ll probably never slip into the whole top-and-bottom combo again, but the skirts could be hemmed to be more everyday functional, and there are about 50 different occasions on which you could re-wear, say, that V-neck top—especially since that one can be worn with the V in the front or the back. Clever. (Bonus points if the bride chooses a universally easy-to-wear color, like black or white.) A photo posted by Joanna August Collection (@joannaaugust) on Jun 18, 2015 at 7:06pm PDT The looks aren’t cheap: Tops start at $135, skirts, $165. But maybe your bridesmaids won’t read more

Sofia Vergara is the most recent celebrity to play bridesmaid—stepping out in a pale-yellow bridesmaid dress over the weekend—but she’s certainly not the first. Below, 14 celebs who have joined the (wedding) party as their friends and family members said “I do.” A photo posted by Eva Mendes (@evamendes) on Apr 30, 2015 at 12:49pm PDT EVA MENDES shared this #tbt from her sister’s wedding to promote her own line of New York & Co. bridesmaid dresses. A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Apr 21, 2015 at 4:15am PDT RIHANNA wore embroidered lilac tulle as a bridesmaid in her friends’ 4/20 wedding. A photo posted by jillyhendrix (@jillyhendrix) on Aug 16, 2014 at 8:37pm PDT LAUREN CONRAD and LO BOSWORTH shared bridesmaid-ing duties when Lauren’s Paper Crown partner, Maura McManus, tied the knot last August. http://www.glamour.com/about/jessica-simpson">JESSICA SIMPSON’s been a bridesmaid more times than we can count: In August of 2014 she wore white for sister Ashlee Simpson’s wedding. She walked down the aisle with Zach Braff when BFF CaCee Cobb married Donald Faison in 2012, above left. And way back in 2004, she was a bridesmaid in Jennifer MacFarlane’s wedding to Sean Sullivan, above right; Justin Timberlake was also read more

Sofia Vergara served as a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding earlier today, proving—as we all suspected—that Sofia Vergara looks fantastic in whatever she’s wearing, even if that “whatever” is a floor-length kinda shapeless pastel yellow bridesmaid dress. The handsome date by her side—fiance Joe Manganiello—made for some nice arm candy. A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 27, 2015 at 6:29pm PDT A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 27, 2015 at 7:38pm PDT Sofia and Joe—engaged since December—are planning their own “BIG” wedding this fall. Here’s a better look at her engagement ring—and its low-profile diamond—if you’d like a reminder. Watch We Play Emmys Trivia With the Casts of Modern Family. read more

If you’ve ever shopped for bridesmaid dresses you know that there are thousands and thousands of styles available. So it’s surprising that brides across the country (along with their friends, we hope) are reaching for the same dresses over and over again. We polled Bella Bridesmaids showrooms in five major markets to see which styles were local favorites; several designers were popular nationwide, and one dress in particular popped up among the Top 5* in every market. And these aren’t shops that carry two or three designers—the number varies by location, but the Birmingham, Ala., store offers dresses by 31 designers while NYC sells 21. *Some cities had a Top 5, while others only had clear-cut best-sellers in the Top 3 spots. Something else surprising: While brides and bridesmaids have been clamoring for cocktail-length dresses, it seems they’re still buying the floor-length gowns. (There’s only a single above-the-knee dress in the mix below.) They’re also making more-expensive picks: Several locations carry lower-price lines, such as Wtoo, but most of the dresses below are in the mid-$200 to low-$300 range. Here’s the breakdown: DENVER 1. Ceremony by Joanna August Newbury Long. 2. Jenny Yoo Annabelle Convertible Bridesmaid Dress. 3. Adrianna Papell read more

Mindy Kaling joined Seth Meyers on the Late Night stage last night and had plenty to say on bridesmaid-ing and how the whole gig is basically a racket—especially compared with how easy the groomsmen have it. “When you’re a bridesmaid at a wedding, although it sounds kind of glamorous when you’re younger, but you’re essentially like a maid. You're like a slave, an unpaid slave, to the wedding,” she quipped. “You're a maid and you know it because you're wearing a dress that's the same color as the other maids, like your uniform, and your job is just to like guide grandparents and talk to foreigners and seat people who look confused, find the rings and stuff.” Groomsmen, on the other hand: “When you're a groomsman, you're technically supposed to be helpful, but all they do is like drink beer and play with the dogs and stuff.” Watch the clip here. Um, YES. And yes and yes. Watch Mindy Kaling and Stephen Colbert on Why They’re Each Other’s Biggest Fans. read more

Matchy-matchy bridesmaids might be falling out of favor among brides—lots of brides are content to choose a color and let their friends each pick a dress, matchy-ness be damned. And still, your bridesmaids might prefer to just buy a specific dress that you’ve picked out, for several reasons: (1) They don’t have time (or the desire) to spend searching for the perfect shade of Burnished Unicorn’s Breath Lavender to coordinate with your carefully selected color palette. And (2) They want you to love the dress, which is a lot more likely to happen if you go ahead and pick it yourself. If you’re OK with just sending your friends a “ATTN: BUY NOW!” bridesmaid dress link, check out the new Serenity collection from Donna Morgan, which features fabrics, silhouettes, and details (sparkly sequins!) that your bridesmaids would probably choose to buy if left to their own devices. The phrase “wear-again potential” always feels like a sham—does anyone, ever?—but the tutu-looking dress would be SO cute for a wedding guest. Check out the entire Serenity collection on donna-morgan.com, and click back often for an on-sale date. (It’s reportedly coming any day!) read more

Planning a night out in a strange city is hard enough—never mind several nights out with a group. If you’re taking your bachelorette party (or your best friend’s bachelorette) on the road, here are some tips to help you navigate the country’s hottest bachelorette destinations, courtesy of people who work in some of the cities’ most popular hotels. NASHVILLE View image | gettyimages.com EAT The Southern Steak & Oyster Bar is locally owned and accepts reservations for larger groups. Rock Bottom Brewery can accommodate a crowd and has a variety of cuisines for your picky-eater friends. Tips: Call ahead: Most restaurants have full bars. If you find one that’s BYOB—which can be a great money-saver—ask if there's a per-bottle corkage fee. DRINK Tootsie’s, Layla’s, The Stage, Honky Tonk Central PLAY Listen to live music downtown beginning at 11 A.M. Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame Take a Pedal TavernTour of the city and drink beer on board Ride the The Redneck Comedy BusTour Check out the Nash Trash Tour, a rowdy, risque tour books months in advance Take a Joy Ride on modified golf carts that hold four to six people; drivers work on a tip-only basis. STAY Hampton read more

Assuming you don’t have a, say, a household staff to shout orders to, adopting a few bridesmaids for your wedding day is a great opportunity to throw your weight around. Heck, make it an even dozen. The more the merrier, right? It’s YOUR year*, after all. Here are four easy ways to make the most of it. *I’m kidding, of course. Brides, you get a day. ONE day. Smile, betches. 1. Go Hard With the DIY Projects. Why have hand-whittled coasters as favors or ceremony programs calligraphed on butterfly wings? Why NOT, when you have a group of girls to execute all your DIY dreams on demand? Just think of all the money you’ll save by having them orchestrate a potluck wedding reception. Caterer, schmaterer. Or, maybe take it easy on the DIY—at least as far as your bridesmaids are concerned. It’s fine if you want to make all of your wedding flowers from paper {ahem! } but make any projects optional for bridesmaids. And if they are kind enough to help, be overly gracious. Ply them with drinks and snacks and give profuse thanks. 2. Ignore Their Budgets. You only get married once, so you deserve the a destination read more

Whether you're rushing the bridal countdown clock or just on the hunt for bridesmaid dresses that aren't marked as such, I've got good news: There are SO many good options that aren't classified as legit 'maid pieces but work just as brilliantly. The biggest bonuses of all? They're often less expensive, and you can order and have them shipped almost immediately. !function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + '://' + 'widgets.rewardstyle.com' + '/js/lookbook.js';d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof(window.__lookbook) === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {window.__lookbook.init();}}(document, 'script', 'lookbook-script');JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content. PS: How good are those pink girlfriends? All the styles are from ASOS' just-launched (and way affordable) line of bridesmaid options. read more

In the lead-up to her own wedding with Bryan Greenberg later this year, Jamie Chung has three more weddings get to, as a guest. Here are her wedding guest picks from Revolve’s new Wedding Shop, which features dresses, shoes, and accessories for brides, ’maids, and attendees. Beach Wedding in Mexico A watercolor maxidress. Parker Grady Maxidress, $297. New England Garden Wedding Long sleeves—for a chilly night—and a flash of skin. Mason by Michelle Mason Long-Sleeve Wrapdress, $627. Black-Tie Wedding Sexy but not too sexy, with room to dance. TFNC London Phoebe Dress, $115. Here’s a little video with her explaining these three selects: Click here to shop all of Jamie’s picks for wedding guests. Which of these dresses would you wear as a wedding guest? read more

The whole matchy-matchy bridesmaid dress tradition started as an attempt to ward off bad luck: With her ’maids dressed in white, the bride was supposed to be protected from evil spirits, who wouldn’t be able to tell the ladies apart. These days bridesmaids wear color, more often than not, but since the dresses are generally in a muted shade, the ’maids tend to blend in with the scenery during the ceremony. And at the reception—where all the women are wearing dresses—the bridesmaids blend in with the crowd. That won’t happen, however, if you choose a bright, bold dress for your bridesmaids. Bride Caren picked these Mara Hoffman dresses for her best friends, and they couldn’t have looked prettier. I think the whole thing works for several reasons: 1) Everything else about the bridesmaids’ look is muted: ultra-simple flowers, minimal accessories, natural makeup, and loose waves. If there were wild bouffants, statement jewelry, or cascading bouquets, it would start to feel like sensory overload. 2) The guys are way toned down. In classic black and white, they’re the perfect backdrop for these dresses. 3) The bride’s dress is ultra simple. If Caren had picked a blinged-out ball gown with a sweeping read more

I’m all for your wedding dress being trendy. Wedding shorts? Sure. A pop of neon? Go for it. And I adore a crop-top wedding dress when it’s done well—see one bride nail it here. But forcing crop-top dresses on your bridesmaids feels a leeeeetle dicey. Which is why I kind of cringed when I saw the crop-top bridesmaid dresses that Brittany Kerr picked for her ’maids when she married Jason Aldean earlier this month. (See here and here.) As someone with body confidence to spare—in the upper abs region, anyway—I think I’d feel way too exposed in those particular dresses. (The tops kind of feel like bedazzled sports bras, no?) And still, I do think there are ways to tap into the crop-top bridesmaid dress trend that won’t have your best friends running for cover. If you’re going to do a true crop top, I think the top needs to be a little loose, with only the tiniest flash of skin. (You really can’t see anything here.) Erin by Erin Fetherston Pippy Skirt and Pippy Top from Neiman Marcus. Or you can give the impression of a crop top while keeping everything covered up, with a dress that mimics the read more

Even Mama Monster has to say yes to a pastel bridesmaid dress when one of her besties is walking down the aisle: Lady Gaga wore a floor-length lavender gown when a high school friend swapped vows on Friday night. She paired the dress—I think it’s Jenny Yoo’s convertible gown in Wisteria—with minimal makeup and kept her locks (blond, today) loose. For a gal who’s worn a meat dress and popped up on one red carpet in an egg, she looks surprisingly low-key—a lot like you probably look like in a pastel bridesmaid dress. If you check out the photos on Us, it looks like she wore these lavender shoes—seen here with her new, supersize heart-shaped engagement ring—to the wedding too. A photo posted by @ladygaga on Mar 18, 2015 at 11:50am PDT Thoughts on Gaga’s bridesmaid ensemble? read more

I like the idea of gifting your bridesmaids with the same general thing but with variations that suit their personality or style. Like, a watch is a sweet gift, but getting all your friends the EXACT same watch feels a little, I don’t know, impersonal? But I bet you could find a watch that suits each of your ’maids in ModCloth’s selection of Olivia Burton London watches. Look how pretty! !function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + '://' + 'widgets.rewardstyle.com' + '/js/boutique.js';d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__boutique === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {window.__boutique.init();}}(document, 'script', 'boutique-script');JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content. We know from various Save the Date polls that your bridesmaids would prefer you chip in for their dress, hair and makeup, or hotel stay rather than buying them a thing. But I like the idea of giving a gift that will last beyond your wedding day. Would you gift your bridesmaids with one of these watches? Would you like to receive one as a bridesmaid? I adore the one with the floral face! read more

I love floral dresses for bridesmaids, and Donna Morgan has ’em by the bunch. Check out all this flower-covered prettiness: Greta, Sarah, and Jessie, all in Garden Floral, $220. Mix-and-match silhouettes basically don’t get any easier than that. I’m also digging these long bridesmaid dresses for a tropical wedding. Stephanie in Rose Pink Multi and Blue, $230. And I’m obsessed with this one. The silhouette is so easy-breezy, and I like how the print look sort of like watercolor painting over a sketch. Can you just picture wearing it as a wedding guest, or to a winery picnic, or a long, lazy summer date-night dinner? The only bad thing about asking your bridesmaids to wear this dress would be that they’d wear it 100 times before your wedding. Laura in Taffy, $230. Would you put your bridesmaids in a floral dress? Which of these dresses do you like best? read more